PULSE
Real Name: Augustus ??
Identity/Class: Human mutant
Occupation: Thief
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Avengers (Luke Cage, Captain America/Steve Rogers, Iron Man/Tony Stark, Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Wolverine/James "Logan" Howlett), O*N*E (Valerie Cooper, Crazy Train/Tracy Skylark, War Machine/James Rhodes), Ozymandias, X-Men (Beast/Hank McCoy, Cyclops/Scott Summers, Emma Frost, Gambit/Remy LeBeau, Havok/Alex Summers, Iceman/Robert Drake, Mystique/Raven Darkholme, Rogue/Anna Marie), X-Men students (Bling!/Roxy Washington, Rockslide/Santo Vaccaro)
Enemies: Apocalypse (En Sabah Nur), Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Death/Remy LeBeau, Famine/Shiro Yoshida, Pestilence/Lorna Dane, War/Gazer)
Known Relatives: Unidentified mother
Aliases: "Pulsey called by Mystique, "Gus" called by Rogue
Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
formerly for several weeks the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, Salem Center, New York
First Appearance: X-Men II#173 (September, 2005)
Powers/Abilities: Pulse is a mutant with the ability to produce disruptor fields, pulses, to scramble and disable electronic systems. He can use these abilities to create hypnotic masks, disguising his or other people's brain wave patterns from psychics, although these only remain intact for a limited amount of time. In addition Pulse, when up-close to another mutant, can temporarily drain their powers leaving his victim powerless, although this acquires a lot of effort. It's been unrevealed if Pulse could also drain other non-mutant superhumans of their abilities. When using his mutant abilities, Pulse's eyes turn bright yellow.
Height: 6'2" (by approximation)
Weight: 185 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Brown, yellow when using powers
Hair: Blond
History:
(X-Men II#173 - BTS) - Pulse is a mutant thief, spending his time raiding the homes of the rich and powerful, mostly stealing works of art. To do so, Pulse used his mutant ability to produce a disruptor field which disabled the electronic security systems.
(X-Men II#187 (fb) - BTS) - Pulse's mother would regularly say there was nothing that time, whiskey, and the novels of Virginia Woolf wouldn't heal. She was eventually carried off to a sanatorium.
(X-Men II#179 (fb) - BTS) - Pulse would use the stolen money to invest in stocks and shares which he knew would crash, getting a perverse pleasure out of losing other people's money.
(X-Men II#173 (fb) - BTS) - Pulse met and befriended the shapeshifting Mystique, which resulted in Pulse being in her debt.
(X-Men II#173 (fb) - BTS) - Mystique found Pulse to be the perfect match for her foster daughter, X-Man Rogue because of his ability to drain a mutant's powers. Determined to drive Rogue and Gambit apart, Mystique planned to infiltrate the X-Men as new student Foxx. In order to fully hide her true identity, Pulse used his mutant abilities to give Mystique a psychic shield thus disguising her brain wave patterns from psychics.
(X-Men II#173) - While breaking into another luxurious home in the dead of night, Pulse received a phone call from Mystique, fearing her psychic shield was breaking. However, Pulse's ringtone of Beethoven's Fifth disturbed the sleeping children in the house but since the house alarm didn't go off they went back to bed doubting a criminal would go for classical music. Pulse then explained to Mystique he would be unable to give her a "hypnotic booster" to strengthen his psychic shield noting she'd have to hope none of the telepaths would get on to her. Not much later Mystique would actually reveal her true identity claiming she wished to join the X-Men.
(X-Men II#174) - Curious to learn of Mystique's progress, Pulse called her only to find Xavier Institute's headmistress Emma Frost on the other end of the phone line as Mystique had been placed in a cell awaiting the senior X-Men's decision whether or not she could join the X-Men. When asked who called, Pulse replied he was the scourge of the bourgeoisie.
However, fearing she would be turned down, Mystique fled her cell after an altercation with X-Men student Onyxx who'd fallen in love with her alter ego Foxx after which she returned to Pulse's side, joining him on another heist. The duo raided a luxurious house as Mystique wanted to see if he was the man she'd hoped for (a candidate for Rogue). Mystique, however, was unaware the X-Men had voted to allow her to become an X-Man on probationary status.
(House of M I#8 - BTS) - Pulse was among the handful of mutants who retained their powers after the Scarlet Witch cast a reality-altering spell to shut off the mutant gene.
(X-Men II#179) - Mystique once again joined Pulse on one of his heists stealing another expensive painting. During the heist Mystique convinced Pulse to join her at the Xavier Institute to introduce him to Rogue noting she would tell her about Pulse's special attributes that would make him the perfect husband.
(X-Men II#181) - Mystique and Pulse, now wearing casual clothing, arrived at the Xavier Institute, sarcastically reporting for duty. Xavier Institute headmaster Cyclops, Iceman, Gambit, Rogue and X-Men student Bling! were present when Mystique introduced Pulse as her protégé, a thief with a spotless criminal record. She went on to claim Pulse's special attributes would make him the ideal match for Rogue prompting Gambit and Rogue to turn against them. Cyclops, however, remained calm and noted she was voted in by the X-Men, albeit on probationary status. With other X-Men Storm, Polaris and Havok gone they could use every powered mutant they could get. Upset, Gambit left, much to Mystique's pleasure.
(X-Men II#182) - With the Xavier Institute under constant surveillance by the Sentinel Squad O*N*E, Pulse took Rogue aside for a chat. Pulse revealed he was embarrassed by Mystique's behavior but seeing he owed her one he'd promised to meet Rogue. While talking, Pulse put his hand on Rogue's arm without anything bad happening much to Rogue's surprise.
(X-Men II#184) - The Xavier Institute came under attack by mutant supremacist Apocalypse and his Four Horsemen. Believing Pulse's ability to drain a mutant's power could help, Mystique informed Havok of his powers. When asked if he could do what needed to be done, Pulse admitted his power would only work if he got really close, adding he was a bit of a coward. The X-Men then decided to give Pulse a chance, led by Apocalypse's former right-hand man Ozymandias, a small strike team was led into Apocalypse's Sphinx where they faced his newest Horseman Death, Gambit.
(X-Men II#185) - As Apocalypse was now protected by his Horseman Death, Pulse was unable to use his abilities on the mutant supremacist. Pulse, however, was able to save Rogue from her former lover after which they escaped from Apocalypse's Sphinx. Ozymandias, however, stayed behind noting the Sphinx had many secret chambers to hide. Apocalypse then set course for the United Nations.
(X-Men II#186) - Now accompanied by two giant Sentinels, War Machine and Crazy Train, courtesy of the Sentinel Squad O*N*E, Pulse again joined a team of the X-Men in following Apocalypse's Sphinx. With the Avengers already on site, Pulse and the X-Men made their way inside the Sphinx. Upon reaching Apocalypse and Death, Pulse decided to stay behind while the X-Men battled the villains. From the sidelines, Pulse witnessed the arrival of Apocalypse's Horseman War who was then killed by Ozymandias, who appeared again, determined to take his former master down. Fearing failure, Apocalypse quickly fled deep inside his base where he was about to use the Celestial Infernal Machine to destroy the Sphinx with the X-Men in it. The machine, however, was destroyed by the X-Men, defeating and endings Apocalypse's threat.
Back at the Xavier Institute, Pulse comforted Rogue with her loss of Gambit. The duo walked back inside, holding hands.
(X-Men II#187 (fb) - BTS) - Several weeks passed during which Pulse and Rogue spent lots of time together.
(X-Men II#187) - Pulse and Rogue were spending time in the Institute's cafetaria when suddenly the comatose Lorna Dane exploded through the floor, recovering from her time being Apocalypse's Famine. Holding hands, Pulse and Rogue discussed how comforting it had been spending several weeks together after which Mystique appeared, noting they were made for each other. Mystique went on to ask if Pulse had already proposed to Rogue, prompting the mutant thief to leave. Not long after, former Horsemen Gambit and Sunfire infiltrated the Xavier Institute, eager to take Polaris with them. During the battle that followed, Pulse took on Gambit, draining him off his powers long enough for Rogue to knock him out. Gambit, however, was rescued by Sunfire after which the duo took off.
Later that night, Rogue and Pulse met on a balcony in the romantic moonlight, discussing recent events when Pulse mentioned that with Gambit gone nothing stood in the way of their romance. Rogue, however, recoiled, explaining that almost being killed by the love of her life had put her off on romance for the foreseeable future after which the X-Man left. Having seen the altercation, Mystique appeared confronting Pulse with his timing. Pulse told Mystique off and left.
(Heroic Age: X-Men - BTS) - As the new head of S.H.I.E.L.D., Steve Rogers assessed the entire known mutant community. In his report, he analyzed Pulse and stated he'd vanished from O*N*E's radar after leaving the Xavier Institute. Rogers believed Pulse had the makings of a hero.
Comments: Created by Peter Milligan, Salvador Larroca, Danny Miki & Allen Martinez.
Profile by MarvellousLuke
CLARIFICATIONS:
Pulse has no known connections to:
images: (without ads)
X-Men II#182, p17, pan2 (main image)
X-Men II#179, p15, pan3 (working as a thief alongside Mystique)
X-Men II#181, p15, pan2 (Xavier Institute)
X-Men II#184, p12, pan2-3 (bit of a coward)
X-Men II#187, p22, pan2-3 (no romance for Pulse and Rogue)
Appearances:
X-Men II#173 (September, 2005) - Peter Milligan (writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils), Danny Miki, Allen Martinez (inkers), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men II#174 (October, 2005) - Peter Milligan (writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils), Danny Miki, Allen Martinez (inkers), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men II#179 (February, 2006) - Peter Milligan (writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils), Danny Miki (inks), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men II#181 (March, 2006) - Peter Milligan (writer), Roger Cruz (pencils), Victor Olazaba, Don Hillsman III (inkers), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men II#182 (April, 2006) - Peter Milligan (writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils, inks), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men II#184 (May, 2006) - Peter Milligan (writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils, inks), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men II#185 (June, 2006) - Peter Milligan (writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils, inks), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men II#186 (July, 2006) - Peter Milligan (writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils, inks), Mike Marts, Sean Ryan, Nick Lowe (editors)
X-Men II#187 (August, 2006) - Peter Milligan (writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils, inks), Mike Marts (editor)
Heroic Age: X-Men (February, 2011) - Michael Hoskin, Chad Anderson, Mike O'Sullivan, Peter Sanderson, Markus Raymond, Anthony Flamini, Kevin Garcia, Stuart Vandal, Jacob Rougemont, Madison Carter (writers), Jeff Youngquist (editor)
First Posted: 10/20/2020
Last Updated: 10/20/2020
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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